Chicago Bears: Losing Good Defensive Assistants Has Killed Team
By Erik Lambert
The rumor mill is hot right now with the Chicago Bears. Most of it is centered on the situation regarding defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
According to Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Tribune, there is a significant degree of tension between him and head coach Vic Fangio. Much of it regarding philosophy differences over the direction of the defense. Belief is Fox isn’t happy with the vanilla approach Fangio brings. He wants a more aggressive approach. One that will hopefully produce more turnovers.
On the flip side many are perplexed by this. Fangio’s unit, despite severe injury issues, ranks 7th in the NFL in yards allowed. The progress they’ve made with their young draft picks is also a major plus for the work he and his assistants have put in. Yet this rumor persists. Of course Fox and Fangio both have since denied its truth.
Either way this isn’t some secondary source delivering it. The Tribune doesn’t make such declarations without having at least some confidence in them. Thus the Bears are confronted with the troubling reality of perhaps losing another high quality defensive coordinator. Something that has haunted this franchise in years past.
In fact the Bears have a significant history of losing top assistants. The results of which have never been good in the months and years following. Here are some examples.
George Allen (1962-1966)
- Won 1963 NFL championship
- With him (5 seasons): average ranking of 6th
- After him (5 seasons): average ranking of 10th
- Reason for depature: became head coach
- Did not make playoffs for 11 years after he left
Buddy Ryan (1978-1985)
- Won Super Bowl XX
- With him (8 seasons): average ranking of 6th
- After him (8 seasons): average ranking of 8th
- Reason for departure: became head coach
- Mike Ditka failed to reach Super Bowl again
Ron Rivera (2004-2006)
- Reached Super Bowl XLI
- With him (3 seasons): average ranking of 5th
- After him (3 seasons): average ranking of 17th
- Reason for departure: was not re-signed
- Made the playoffs once in final six seasons of Lovie Smith tenure
Rod Marinelli (2010-2012)
- Reached NFC championship
- With him (3 seasons): average ranking of 7th
- After him (3 seasons): average ranking of 27th
- Reason for departure: Resigned over disagreements with new head coach hire
- Have not made playoffs since
Admittedly the team success has been minimal up to this point with Vic Fangio, but the point being made is the Bears have a really hard time replacing good assistants. It’s the same on the offensive side of the ball. They replaced Mike Martz with Mike Tice in 2012 and replaced Adam Gase with Dowell Loggains this year. Is it reasonable to trust this team can find anybody as good or better than Fangio in 2017?
Respectfully, that’s highly doubtful. Thus Chicago is confronted with a decision. If the rumor is true, either they must trust Fox can pull that off or they find a way to keep Fangio on board. Yes, even if that means promoting him.